Muhlenberg Party-goer Says Frat Roughed Him Up

A Philadelphia man who claims he was roughed up at a Muhlenberg College fraternity party in 1982 has sued the fraternity, the college and four students.

The case was transferred to Lehigh County Court from Philadelphia County.

Stephen Metzinger's suit said he was at a party at the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house at 2310 Chew St., Allentown, on Sept. 4, 1982, and was asked by Brad Erlenbach to pay a $3 admission fee.

He contended that as a guest he was not required to pay a fee.

Metzinger said someone pushed his girlfriend into a wall and he punched the person in the face.

About six fraternity members "forceably expelled" him from the fraternity house by pushing and punching him, the suit said.

Metzinger claimed that while he was lying on the ground he was punched, kicked and surrounded by defendants in the suit, Stacey Santolla, Jerry Hagarity, Robert Sprovero and Greg Wellens, all of New Jersey.

He said he had to undergo surgery for a broken cheekbone.

His suit alleged the college and fraternity were negligent in permitting underage drinking on the premises and permitting underage drinking when they knew people at the party were drunk.

It said the college and fraternity failed to provide rules and guidelines for drinking by students and fraternity members and failed to provide adequate supervision and security.

In its answer to the suit, the fraternity said several members were having a party on the second floor of the fraternity house and members could participate by contributing toward a keg of beer.

The fraternity said Metzinger was not a guest and refused to contribute. A "verbal altercation" occurred, and Metzinger struck Erlenbach over the head with a bottle of whiskey, according to the fraternity.

It claimed fraternity members "escorted" him from the premises.

The college and the fraternity denied permitting underage drinking and denied that they did not provide adequate supervision and security.